Mount for magnifying glass for sewing machine



l. PANTAZOS 3,361,513

MOUNT FOR MAGNIFYING GLASS FOR SEWING MACHINE Jan. 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1966 INVENTOR. BYIWANNE PANTAZOS ATTORNEYS l. PANTAZOS 3,361,513

MOUNT FOR MAGNIFYING GLASS FOR SEWING MACHINE Jan. 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1966 INVENTOR. IWANNE PANTAZOS ZQW/M/Zfi ATTORNEYS United States Patent f 3,361,513 MGUNT FOR MAGNEFYING GLASS FOR SEWING MACHINE Iwanne Pantazos, Room 315, Kittredge Bldg, Denver, Colo. 86292 Filed Mar. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 535,527 2 Claims. (Ci. 350-244} ABSTRACT 0F IHL DISCLGSURE This disclosure pertains to a magnifying glass for a sewing machine and to the mount therefor. The magnifying glass is carried in a rectangular frame channelled along an edge to provide for lateral shifting on the mount. The mount includes a base secured to the sewing head of the machine, a head vertically shiftable on the base, an intermediate link pivotally secured to the bottom edge of the head to swing outwardly therefrom, and a slide bar pivotally secured to the outer end of the link to hold the magnifying glass.

This invention relates to sewing machine accessories and more particularly to visual aids therefor, a primary object of the invention being to provide a novel and improved magnifying glass and mounting for a sewing machine, not only for use by people of weak vision, but also for use by operators of good vision to facilitate their sewing skill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved magnifying glass for a sewing machine which may be securely attached to the machine in a position to aid an operator in preparing a sewing machine for use and aids in visually controlling the operation of the machine while it is being used and sewing operations are in progress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magnifying glass for a sewing machine and an improved mounting system therefor, which is especially adapted to permit the glass to be shifted to many different positions and degrees of tilt, to better aid in performing various sewing operations and to be placed in an out-of-theway position when not needed where it will not he accidentally damaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a magnifying glass for a sewing machine, a novel and improved mounting arrangement which permits the glass to be shifted to various lateral positions to better adjust the same for different types of sewing operations.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved magnifying glass and mounting system for supporting the magnifying glass on a sewing machine which may be mounted on any sewing machine head in a position which will not interfere with the normal movement of material through the machine, which rigidly holds the glass at many various positions without vibration while the machine is running, and which is easily adapted to be attached to various types of sewing machines, and which is a neat-appearing, safe, simple in construction, rugged and durable unit, and of low cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the present invention comprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts and elements, as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

' :FIGURE 1 is a perspective front view of a sewing machine having a preferred form of the improved magnifying glass mounted at the base of the head thereof, with broken lines indicating diagrammatically the manner in which the glass may be shifted laterally and vertically.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view through the Cir 3,361,? 13 Patented Jan. 2, 1968 glass and its mount as taken from the indicated line 22 at FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale and showing further, an end view of a fragment of the sewing machine with a portion being in section to show the manner of the mount connected to the machine, with arrows indicating the manner in which the glass may be tilted and with broken lines indicating the position the glass may assume for safety and convenience when it is out of use.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary portion of the showing at FIG. 2, but on a greatly enlarged scale.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the components which make up the mounting attachment for the frame of the lens.

FIGURE 5 is a partially exploded view of the lens frame and lens of the unit.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail of separated portions as taken from the indicated line 6-6 at FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of a different type of sewing machine, the view being on a reduced scale and somewhat diagrammatic, and illustrating a modified form of attachment for the magnifying glass.

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of yet another type of machine, illustrating a third type of attachment for the machine which is at the outer face of the head of the machine.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary portion of an end view of the sewing machine head and of the magnifying glass mounting attachment, as viewed substantially from the indicated arrow 9 at FIG. 8.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail as taken from the indicated line 1ll10 at FIG. 9.

A sewing machine is essentially a visually controlled apparatus and the ease with which adjustments are made, needles threaded, and the ease, precision and neatness of actual sewing operations are largely dependent upon the sharpness of the vision of the operator. In recognition of this, sewing machine operating manuals always recommend a well lighted room where the machine is to be used. However, good lighting is not always enough. For individuals having weak or defective vision, sewing becomes a tedious chore. Even operators with normal vision often have difiiculty in seeing cuts, tears, abrasions and other flaws that may be in cloth or garments which are easily overlooked during sewing and repairing operations. Moreover, only people having the finest eyesight can easily thread a small needle or hand sew small items such as eyes, snaps, hooks and the like. Hence, a magnifying glass has been recognized as a desirable addition to a sewing machine.

To overcome visual problems associated with sewing machines, it has been proposed that magnifying glasses be used with the machines. Perhaps the first is disclosed in a patent issued to I. Watts, Feb. 26, 1884, No. 294,171. Subsequent to that time several others have patented con structions which provide for magnifying glasses on sewing machines. However, none of these constructions have been successful. For one thing, they have been restricted in their freedom of movement and adjustment as well as designed for one or two heads only. Also, the type of sup porting arm members are usually unduly complicated with numerous clamps, bolts, nuts and the like and include connecting arms of awkward length as to be unable to adequately rigidify the magnifying glasses against vibrational eflects of the machine as it is being rapidly operated.

It follows that there still exists a real and definite need for an improved arrangement for holding a magnifying glass on a sewing machine, which avoids the limitations above set forth and which also meets other criterions of desirability as set forth in the afores-tated objects. The

present invention was conceived and developed with such needs in view, and comprises, in essence, a magnifying glass mounted upon the front of a sewing machine by an articulated support, wherein the glass is secured in a frame, having a slide passageway along one edge thereof. The support includes a base secured to the sewing machine, a head vertically adjustable upon the base, a link pivotally attached to the head to swing outwardly from the head, and a slide bar pivotally attached to the link and extending into the slide passageway of the glass frame. The movement of the head upon the base provides vertical adjustments to the glass. The swinging of the link about its pivotal connection swings the glass outwardly from the sewing machine. The swinging of the slide bar and also the link upon their pivotal connections permits the glass to be placed at selected inclinations, and the shifting of the glass upon the slide bars provides for lateral adjustments of the glass.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the sewing machine S illustrated at FIG. 1 is representative of any of a number of conventional table types. The machine is mounted upon a base 12 which is incorporated into the top of a table in any suitable manner, not shown. The machine itself includes a standard 13 upstanding from V the right side of the base 12 to hold the arm 14. The arm is cantilevered therefrom and over the base, and with the sewing head 15 at its outstanding end. This head depends from the end of the arm to slidably support a reciprocating needle bar is and an adjustable foot 17 which depends from the bottom of this head. The needle bar carries a needle 13 which moves into a socket in a plate 19 within the base to engage a bobbin shuttle and other mechanisms within the base of the machine, all in a conventional manner which need not be shown nor described in detail for an understanding of the present invention.

Consonant with the principles of the invention, a magnifying glass 29 is mounted upon the lower end of the sewing head 15 to be tilted, shifted and positioned to advantageously magnify the region below the head, including the lower portion of the needle bar 16, the needle 18, the foot 17, and material moving through the machine. It is essential that this glass be adjustable to tilt and shift to various positions when the sewing machine is being used in order to realize its advantages to the fullest possible extent. For example, it may be first positioned for the threading of a needle and then shifted to another position when an actualsewing operation is under way. The actual positioning of the glass will depend upon the desires of an individual and the type of work being done with the machine. In some instances, it will also be desirable to lift the glass completely out of the way. My improved mounting construction which supports the glass provides for such necessary vertical, lateral and tilting movements, as will be hereinafter set forth in detail. The magnifying glass Zilmay be of any selected degree of magnification and is preferably formed as a rectangular member approximately 2 /2 to 3 inches wide and 3 /2 to 4 inches long. The longitudinal dimension of the glass is oriented parallel with the arm 14 of the machine and transverse to the direction of movement of material through it and hereinafter such direction will be sometimes referred to as lateral. This glass is carried in a suitable frame 21, FIG. 5, having a passageway 22 formed by its inner edge .23; that is, the edge where the frame is connected to the supporting mount on the head 15 of the machine, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The frame 21 embraces the glass with the inner wall edges having a centered holding slot 2 to retain the edges of the glass. The frame, a smoothed-surface unit having champered corners, includes the inner edge 23, wherein the passageway 22 is formed, an outer edge 25 formed as a rigid strip, a first end 26, similar to the edge 25, and a second end 27 formed of spaced bridging strips to permit the glass to be removed from the frame by sliding it therefrom between the strips 27. This second end is closed by a socketed end cap 23 which is adapted to receive the strips 27' and ends of edges 23 and 25 with a snug lit. Lips 29 overhang the opening of this cap 28, as illustrated at PEG. 6, to provide for a lock-snap effect when the cap is secured over the end of the frame with the glass in place so that removal of the cap requires a special effort and prevents an unnecessary or inadvertent removal of the magnifying glass 26 from the frame, at the same time permitting the glass to be replaced in case it is damaged.

The glass frame 21 is held by a support mount 30, and includes a base 31 which is affixed to the head of the sewing machine and a connector arm 32 which is mounted upon the base to carry the glass frame 21 at its eX- tendcd end. To connect this arm 32 to the glass frame, the extended end thereof includes a slide bar 33 which fits into the frame passageway 22, FIGS. 2 and 3. This bar 33 not only holds the glass frame in position, but also provides for lateral shifting of the frame in its mount as in. the directions of the indicated arrows at at FIG. 1. To swing the frame outwardly as in the direction of the indicated arrows b at FIG. 2, to any selected tilt upwardly and out of the way, as indicated in broken lines at FIG. 2, the arm is formed of two or preferably three members articulately interconnected by laterally axised pivots. To shift the frame vertically, the mounting of the arm upon the base is by a slidably adjustable connection, all as will now be set forth in detail.

The base 31 is in the general form of a simple, fiat rectan ular bar which is adapted to be secured to the head of the sewing machine in a generally vertical position. It may include extensions or the like to accommodate and be better fitted to any specific type of sewing machine, as hereinafter described. However, the fundamental form, at the portion where the arm 32, FIGS. 2 and4, is con nected, is a vertically disposed member with the outer surface having a central vertical shoulder 34 which forms a slide rail for restraining the arm 32 attached thereto against twisting, but permitting it to be shifted along the base for vertical adjustments of the glass, as in the direction of the indicated arrow 0 at FIG. 1. This base is securely attached to a suitable location at the bottom of'the tapped hole 38 is provided on the face of the shoulder 34' 'to receive a connective thumb screw 39 for holding the arm 32 thereon.

The arm 32 includes a head 40, FIG. 4, formed as a short rectangular bar adapted to be shiftably mounted upon the base. A groove 41 at the underside of the head siidably nests over the shoulder 34 of the base 31, and a slot 42 paralleling the groove is provided in the face of the head through which the connective thumb screw 39 passes. Accordingly, the head 43 is adapted to be shifted vertically upon the base for vertical adjustments within the range of movement of the thumb screw in the slot to allow for variation of machine head design or other changes as desired, the thumb screw then being adapted to be tightened to effectively lock the head at any selected position upon the base. The fit of the shoulder 34 in the groove 41 is necessarily a frictional fit to hold the glass in place against vibration when the machine is running at high speed. If desired, gripping means, such as interlocking transverse grooves on these members, may be provided to insure a positive locking action.

The arm includes hinge-connected sections suspended below the head, including an intermediate link 43 and the slide bar 33. Preferably, the construction of the intermediate link 43 is such that it may be omitted and the slide bar 33 then may be directly connected to the head 40. However, a greater degree of flexibility of operation is possible with the use of the intermediate link since it may be used to shift the glass frame 21 outwardly a short distance from the sewing machine head 15, or inwardly toward the head. This latter movement, an inward swing, is possible when the head 40 is dropped to a lower position on the base 31 than that shown, as by loosening the thumb screw 36, and with the link 43 being below the bottom of the head of the machine or underneath an inset in the head of the machine. With this arrangement, the glass can be moved closer to the work for better focusing on certain types of machines. Also, the link 43 provides better clearance for the thumb screw 39 and any operative components on the head of the sewing machine whenever the glass is tilted upwardly and out of the way, as in the position shown in broken lines at FIG. 2.

The intermediate link 43 is formed as a short, rectangular member having the same width as the head. A central hinge curl 44 is formed at the upper end of this link which fits between opposing spaced hinge curls 45, FIG. 4, at the base of the head 40, with the curls forming a common passageway through which a pintle pin 46 passes to hingedly connect the members together. The opposite lower end of the link is formed as a full-width hinge curl 47. This curl is adapted to lie between opposing spaced, hinge curls 48 outstanding from the slide bar 33. The curls form a common passageway through which a pintle pin 49 passes to hingedly connect the link and slide bar together. As a matter of convenience, the spacing of the slide bar curls 48 may be such as to fit upon the spaced hinge curls 45 of the head should it be desirable to omit the link 43.

It is to be noted that the hinge connections must be comparatively tight and that the friction effect or other efiect of the curls upon the pintle pins must be such as to permit the glass to be swung to any selected position and to then remain in such position. Accordingly, it is anticipated that the pintle pin 46 will be fitted into its respecive hinge curls 44 and with a tight frictional fit requiring a definite effort to rotate the intermediate link about the head. Such fitting is a common problem in the art of hinge construction for articles of the 'type under construction, and easily effected with available production machinery. Accordingly, the manner of forming such a fit need not be elaborated upon.

It is anticipated that the swinging of the slide bar 33 on the pintle pin 49 connecting it to the intermediate link will occur more frequently than the swinging of the intermediate link on the pintle pin 46. Accordingly, the pintle pin 49 on the respective hinge curls 47 and 48 is preferably fitted for easy swinging movement and a locking arrangement is provided to hold the glass in any position to which it is rotated. Such locking may be effected in various ways. A simple mechanism consists of a detent 50 formed as a small, flat bar which is mounted in the slide bar 33 in a socket 51 between the hinge curls 48. This detent is biased outwardly from the socket by a small wire spring 52. The face of the intermediate-link curl 47 is longitudinally ribbed with corrugations 53 about a substan tial portion of its periphery, and the edge of the detent 50 is narrowed to engage with any selected corrugation 53 to hold the glass frame in position, but to slip from one corrugation to another as the glass frame is forcibly rotated about the pintle pin 49.

The passageway 22 in the inner edge 23 of the frame 21 slidably holds the slide bar 33 with a smooth, frictional fit. A slotted opening 54 is formed in the inward side of the inner frame edge 23, and the hinge curls 48 of the slide bar protrude from this opening 54 a distance sufficient to provide a snug fitting connection of the frame 21 upon the arm 32. It is desirable that the frictional fit of the slide bar in the passageway be sufficiently tight to hold the glass frame 21 in place without unexpected movement as from a slight bump or by vibration of the sewing machine whenever it is operating, but the fit must be loose enough to permit the glass to be shifted from one lateral position to another as desired. To attain a selected tightness of fitting, the slide bar is formed somewhat narrower than the passageway, and the gap is closed by a simple leaf spring 55 attached to the face of the slide bar as in the manner clearly illustrated at FIGS. 3 and 4.

The simple arrangement of glass and its mounting on a sewing machine as above described may be easily used with many types of sewing machines by the simple expedient of modifying the base 31 of the support structure. In some types of sewing machines, indicated as S illustrated at FIG. 7, it is merely necessary to provide a short appendage 56 on the modified base 31' as illustrated. In other types of sewing machines, indicated as S" illustrated at FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, it is necessary to mount a base 31 at the end of the head 15". Although the base structure 31 is unchanged from that heretofore described, a modified head 40" and intermediate link 43" of the arm 32 will be required. This head 46' is formed with a side extension 57 which supports a single central hinge curl 45 thereon in a position to one side of and perpendicular to the face of the head 40". The intermediate link 4 is formed with a pair of spaced hinge curls 44 which embrace the curl 45" as in the manner illustrated at FIG. 10. Other features of these modified forms are identical to that heretofore described.

I have now described my invention in considerable detail; nevertheless, it is obvious that others skilled in the art can devise and build alternate and equivalent constructions which are within the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence, I desire that my protection be limited, not by the constructions illustrated and described, but only by the proper scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable mounting support for a magnifying glass, adapted to be mounted on the sewing head of a sewing machine to extend forwardly from this head and to hold the magnifying glass at selected positions to enhance the view of sewing components of the machine and material placed in the machine, and comprising:

(a) a base secured to the sewing head of the machine and having a vertically disposed guide means on a face thereof;

(b) a head slidably mounted on the base and having a vertically disposed guide means meshing with the base guide means, and a laterally and horizontally axised hinge component positioned forwardly of the sewing machine head;

(c) a means adapted to lock the head at a selected elevational position on the base;

((1) a slide bar pivotally mounted upon the said hinge component and having laterally extended slide surfaces in spaced parallelism with the axis of the hinge component; and

(e) a frame for holding the magnifying glass having a slotted passageway along one edge thereof, adapted to receive the slide surfaces of the slide bar whereby to permit lateral shifting of the frame on the slide bar; and further,

wherein said pivotal and sliding connections between the base, intermediate link, slide bar and frame have tight frictional fits adapted to permit the magnifying glass to be swung and shifted to selected positions for viewing the sewing machine and material therein, and once positioned, to thereafter remain thus until again shifted.

2. An adjustable mounting support for a magnifying glass, adapted to be mounted on the sewing head of a sewing machine to extend forwardly from this head and to hold the magnifying glass at selected positions to enhance the view of sewing components of the machine and material placed in the machine, and comprising:

(a) a base secured to the sewing head of the machine and having a vertically disposed guide means on a face thereof;

(b) a head slidably mounted on the base and having a vertically disposed guide means meshing with the base guide means, and a laterally and horizontally axised hinge component positioned forwardly of the sewing machine head;

(c) a means adapted to lock the head at a selected elevational position on the base;

(d) an intermediate link pivotally mounted upon the hinge component of thehead to swing outwardly therefrom, and having a second hinge component at its outward edge which lies in spaced parallelism with the first said hinge component;

(6) a slide bar pivotally mounted upon the second said hinge component and having laterally extended slide surfaces in spaced parallelism with the axes of the hinge components; and

(f) a frame for holding the magnifying glass having a slotted passageway along one edge thereof adapted to receive the slide surfaces of the slide bar whereby to permit lateral shifting of the frame on the slide bar; and further,

wherein said pivotal and sliding connections between the base, intermediate link, slide bar and frame have tight frictional fits adapted to permit the magnifying glass to be swung and shifted to selected positions for viewing the sewing machine and material therein,

and once positioned, to thereafter remain thus until again shifted.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1955 Italy.

2 ROY D. PRAZKER, Primary Examiner.

R. P. SEETTER, Assistant Examiner. 

